Stokes pleads not guilty to affray

England cricketer Ben Stokes has submitted a plea of not guilty to one charge of affray at Bristol Magistrates Court.

Stokes, together with two other men, Ryan Ali and Ryan Hale, all submitted pleas of not guilty to the charge of affray and the case has now been sent to Bristol Crown Court, with the first hearing scheduled for March 12.

The all-rounder, along with Ali and Hale, has been released on bail.

The charge relates to an incident in the city in September, when Stokes was arrested during a night out after the one-day international against West Indies.

The 26-year-old has not played for his country since the 124-run victory at the County Ground.

He missed the 4-0 Ashes Test series loss away to Australia, although the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had announced he was available for selection in the limited-overs contests currently taking place in New Zealand.